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How to Approach Solar Farm Siting
How to Approach Solar Farm Siting
When installing solar farms, one must be careful not to disrupt natural lands or biodiversity. The best place to place solar panels is on open, flat rooftops so as to use that space for dual-purpose rather than convert open land into the solar farms. It is important to consider environmental impacts when siting solar farms and to minimize resource use for maximal energy output.
Solar Panel Location at UD
Solar Panel Location at UD
By placing solar panels on the rooftops of the following 12 buildings, UD can generate an estimated 4,486 MWh of electricity:
Perkins Student Center, Graham Hall, Pearson Hall, Composite Materials Lab, Gold Ice Arena, UD Ice Arena, UD Carpenter Sports Building, Bob Carpenter Center, UD Music & Arts Complex, Trabant University Center and the General Services Building.²
Costs and Economic Benefits from Solar Farming
Costs and Economic Benefits from Solar Farming
Installation costs would total $5.87 million with annual operating costs ranging from $270,600 to $328,333 over a 20 year period, with an average of $299,468/year. However, the energy revenue would range from $433,389 to $476,694 each year over the same period with an average of $455,041. In total, there would be a net gain of $155,573 per year.²
Additional Recommendations
Additional Recommendations
As this data is derived from a feasibility study, there is room to decrease how much solar paneling gets installed. If upfront costs are a concern for the University, installation can be done over a period of time or panels don't need to be installed on all 12 recommended buildings. If the University is looking to generate more solar power than what is proposed here, there are likely other buildings that can be retrofitted with solar panels on the roof, this study just looked at the 12 simplest and most effective locations around campus' 200+ buildings.
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